Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry

Governor McDonnell Announces Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund Planning Grant Recipients

May 8 — Governor Bob McDonnell announced today the recipients of fiscal year 2013 planning grants from the Governor's Agriculture & Forestry Industries Development Fund (AFID). Eleven projects covering more than thirty localities have been awarded a total of $249,000 to support the growth of agricultural and forestry projects in the Commonwealth. The AFID planning grants program was developed to encourage local governments and regional organizations to analyze and plan strategically about how they can support and integrate agriculture and forestry-based industries into their communities' overall economic development efforts.
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Governor Announces New Soybean Export Deal Between Montague Farms and Japanese Importer

April 24 — Governor Bob McDonnell announced today as part of his trade and marketing mission to Asia that Montague Farms, a family-owned producer and exporter of specialty soybeans based in Center Cross, Virginia, reached a new agreement to supply food-grade soybeans to a customer in Japan. The specialty soybeans will be imported by Tokyo-based Sun-Tommy International Company and distributed to food processors in Japan. The soybeans will be used to make natto, a fermented breakfast food that is considered a traditional delicacy in Japan. Governor McDonnell met with executives of Montague Farms, Sun-Tommy, and a food processing company in Tokyo on Wednesday to thank Sun-Tommy for reaching an agreement with Montague and to discuss future export business from Virginia.
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Governor McDonnell Issues Virginia Tech Remembrance Day Proclamation

April 15 — Governor Bob McDonnell has issued a proclamation recognizing April 16, 2013 as Virginia Tech Remembrance Day in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Virginia Tech Day of Remembrance Ceremony will take place tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. at the Capitol Square Bell Tower marking the 6th anniversary of the tragedy at Virginia Tech. Lieutenant Governor Bolling will lead the state ceremony. At 9:43 a.m. there will be an official moment of silence observed in the Commonwealth, followed by the ringing of the Capitol Square Bell Tower once for each victim of the tragedy.
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Governor McDonnell Announces Environmental Excellence Award Winners

April 10 — Governor Bob McDonnell announced today the winners of the 2013 Governor's Environmental Excellence Awards, which will be presented at the Environment Virginia Symposium in Lexington.

The awards recognize the significant contributions of environmental and conservation leaders in two categories: sustainability and land conservation. They are given to businesses and industrial facilities, not-for-profit organizations and government agencies.
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Governor McDonnell Receives Copy of Flora of Virginia

March 28 — Yesterday, John F. Townsend, left, and J. Christopher Ludwig, center, co-authors of the new Flora of Virginia, presented Governor Bob McDonnell with a copy of the book in the governor's conference room.

"Virginia's natural beauty is boundless," said Governor McDonnell. "It's great to have it all recorded in one place. My hope is that this book will encourage Virginians, of all ages, to learn more about our Commonwealth and spark an increased interest in the study of science."
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Governor McDonnell Announces 205 New Jobs in Pulaski County

March 15 — Governor Bob McDonnell today announced Red Sun Farms, a producer of high-quality hydroponic vegetables, will invest a total of $30 million to establish its first U.S. high-technology greenhouse production operation in Pulaski County. The company will erect climate controlled greenhouses on 45 acres of land in the New River Valley Commerce Park to grow quality greenhouse grown vegetables, creating 205 new jobs within five years. Virginia successfully competed against Tennessee for the project.
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Governor McDonnell Announces 60 New Jobs in Augusta County

March 15 — Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that Shamrock Farms, one of the largest family-owned-and-operated dairies in the U.S., will build a $50 million dairy manufacturing facility in Augusta County. The project will create 60 new jobs. Virginia successfully competed against Maryland and West Virginia for the project.
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Virginia Agricultural Exports Reach All-Time High in 2012

March 7 — Governor Bob McDonnell announced today that agricultural exports from Virginia reached a new all-time high of $2.61 billion in 2012, shattering the previous record set last year by almost 12 percent. The Governor's announcement came during his keynote remarks at the fifth annual Governor's Conference on Agricultural Trade in Richmond. The conference runs through Friday.
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Governor McDonnell Announces Barboursville Vineyards Awarded 2013 Governor's Cup

February 21 —

~2009 "Octagon 12th Edition" Named Top Virginia Wine~

Judging Standards Make Competition One of Nation's Most Stringent

Governor Bob McDonnell, who championed major changes to the Virginia Governor's Cup competition in 2011 that made it one of the most stringent and comprehensive wine competitions in the United States, awarded the 2013 Virginia Wineries Association's Governor's Cup to Barboursville Vineyards' 2009 Octagon 12th Edition.
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Governor McDonnell to Co-Host 5th Annual Conference on Agricultural Trade March 7-8 in Richmond

February 14 — Click here then click on the clipboard link above to paste selected text from release body.